Final answer:
An extended family includes parents, children, and other relatives such as grandparents and cousins, while a nuclear family consists of parents and their immediate offspring. Distinctions between these types of family units are influenced by cultural perceptions and societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A family unit that includes parents and children as well as other kin such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins is called an extended family. This structure often consists of two or more family units functioning as a single, integrated family, and it may involve multiple generations. In contrast, a nuclear family traditionally consists of two parents (typically a married husband and wife) and their children living together within the same household.
The extended family can be an effective socioeconomic unit, especially in agricultural societies where labor and self-subsistence are highly valued. In industrial or postindustrial societies, we typically find nuclear families which often include a two-parent household with children. Cultural perceptions of what constitutes a family can vary greatly, and such perceptions shape the sociocultural constructs defining family units across different societies.